Heartbreaking loss for Nelson Bay Gropers in rugby finals

SCONE Brumbies and Singleton Red Bulls will battle for the Hunter Suburban Men’s Rugby championship silverware this weekend.

The Red Bulls overcame a gallant Nelson Bay outfit 36-29 in a crackerjack preliminary final last Saturday at Newcastle’s No 2 Sportsground, to advance to the 2025 President’s Cup decider.

In a game of fluctuating fortunes, the Gropers and Red Bulls turned on a thriller with talented Singleton centre Daniel Malloy nabbing the match-winning try with only three minutes left on the clock.

It was a heartbreaking loss and bitter pill to swallow for Zion Takarua’s lion-hearted Gropers, who’ll miss Grand Final Day for a second consecutive season.

Nelson Bay dominated the opening stanza with powerful number eight Mitch Workman and industrious lock and skipper Adam Edwards setting the tone with strong running and jarring defence.

The Gropers required two changes to their starting lineup with an early withdrawal of classy outside back Sam Mitchell who succumbed to a hamstring injury, and inspirational flanker Sam Rocher dropping back to the bench due to an ankle injury.

There were positive signs for Nelson Bay as props Riley Byfield and Nathan McLeay and young dynamo hooker Ollie Edwards matched the larger Red Bulls forward pack in scrummaging.

The Gropers were full of running as halves Kade Redmond and Khace Petera spun the ball to both sides of the field with great effect.

With their energised forward pack laying the foundations, the Gropers blitzed their Singleton rivals with two early tries to jump to a 12-0 lead after eight minutes.

A sweeping backline move resulted in the first try for gun fullback Will Clark before winger Jake Langsford scooted over in the corner after smart lead-up work.

Winger Brayden McMaster received a deft pass from centre Michael Hotene to slide through the narrowest of windows down the sideline, outpacing his opposite number and kicking ahead for Clark to regather, before being pulled down just short of the try line.

Quick hands by centres Sam Ingham and Hotene saw the capable Langsford cross with Ingham converting from the sideline.

A cut out pass to an unmarked McMaster was intercepted by Singleton winger Campbell Harris who dashed over to score the Red Bulls first try under the posts.

An Ingham penalty goal extended the Gropers lead to 15-7 before Singleton rallied and bridged the gap with a try by fullback Daniel Bates.

A turning point in the match came when bullocking prop Riley Byfield left the field with a leg injury after making an impact.

He was replaced by club stalwart Ross Buchan who was immediately in the action with several strong runs.

But the pendulum swung back to Singleton with halfback Nathan Vaughan darting over to score, giving the Red Bulls a 17-15 advantage at the half-time interval.

Led by hard working locks Edwards and Jarred Zuvela, who tackled themselves to a standstill, and consistent flanker Lewis Affleck, the Gropers forwards held their own.

In an absorbing tussle, Nelson Bay were first to crack when Singleton took a second intercept, enabling flanker Hamish Fuller to score.

A slick backline movement resulted in a second try for the rugged number seven, for a 29-15 lead.

With their season on the line Nelson Bay rallied with flanker Affleck surging downfield and combining with seasoned centre Hotene to score before flanker Ronan O’Donnell burst through soon after to set up the Gropers fourth try by Players’ Player award recipient Workman – locking the score at 29-all.

Coach Zakarua sent fresh legs into the fray with lock Mitch Affleck, winger Ryan Marshall, centre Cody Ross, pocket-sized hooker Liam Keating and flanker Hayden Wilson taking the field and tearing into the Red Bulls defence.

A turnover by Nelson Bay in the dying moments saw Singleton pounce and spin the ball wide to an ever alert Malloy who sealed a Grand Final berth with a crucial five pointer.

By Chris KARAS